Subsurface noise, Issue 2, 2025
THE EARLY DAYS OF SUBSURFACE MODELS I recently spoke to a geologist who was heavily involved with the introduction of the first generations of reservoir modelling software. He told me…
Worldwide
Taking a seat on the 4-legged stool of honest energy policy
It’s time to start being honest to ourselves regarding the suitability of an ambitious, high-profile goal such as “net zero”. The unpopular truth is that it has long been evident…
Can we stop exploring?
“Why would we still explore for oil and gas?” asked René Jonk from ACT GEO at the end of his talk for the Geoscience Energy Society of Great Britain this…
How data analysis and 1D models help understand messy vitrinite data
In my last column, I hinted at a case study, where I was able to interpret likely fluid migration based on temperature and vitrinite data in a single well. This…
TMC’s bold move
Frustrated by delays at the International Seabed Authority (ISA), the UN-affiliated body regulating mining in international waters, TMC is making a daring move. In Q2 2025, the Canadian company plans…
CCS – a roller coaster ride from an oil crisis to a climate change solution
Initially, at the time of the 1970s oil crisis, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) was proposed as a way of getting more oil out of the ground through enhanced oil…
Is it a true conjugate fracture set?
Conjugate faults or fractures are a set of shear fractures that formed simultaneously under the same stress conditions. According to Andersonian Fault Theory, this could involve a series of left-lateral…
Fault-valve behaviour of petroleum traps
When evaluating fault-bound traps, it is common practice to map around-the-fault pathways through diligent seismic interpretation, juxtaposition diagrams, and 3D structural framework construction. It is also common practice to address…
How AI helps democratize seismic interpretation
“The times of gurus telling younger staff how to plough through a seismic volume and what to interpret is over,” says Herman van Nieuwoudt from Bluware. Herman started as the…
The geology of Bronze Age epics
A New Year brings new challenges, and for me, that means writing for GEO EXPRO. I am writing after the Xmas break which is traditionally eating, drinking and watching old…
How your WhatsApp call helps detect seismic activity
Our global telecommunications infrastructure consists of millions of kilometers of fiber optic cables. These include terrestrial and subsea networks that ensure that information travels across the planet. With the increased…
Can technology replace fieldwork?
At times of better access to digital outcrop imagery, drone footage and satellite shots, is it still worth going into the field to have a look at the rocks in…